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23 October 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo Rosina Mothiba
Education students present research at Faculty’s Annual Postgraduate Research Conference
A total of 145 postgraduate students and 55 staff members attended the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Education Annual Postgraduate Research Conference Social Media.

“Exploring Grade 12 learners’ substance abuse and its influence on their academic performance”, “The role of the School Management Team in addressing Homophobic Bullying in Xhariep public schools” and “Exploring the use of YouTube videos in the teaching and learning of fractions in Grade 4.” 

These were some of the interesting research titles that were presented at this year’s University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Education Annual Postgraduate Research Conference. The two-day conference, now in its fifth year, took place from 6-7 October with the theme “Changing the Educational Landscape in Africa through ongoing research”. The conference is one of the faculty’s main events supporting its postgraduate students and ensuring time for completion for each one of them. 

A total of 145 postgraduate students and 55 staff members attended the conference where the faculty’s postgraduate students get exposure to present their research in front of an academic audience.

Prof Loyiso Jita, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, delivered the keynote address and spoke at length about the graduation rates of master’s and doctoral students in the faculty. He challenged the presenters to hold themselves and each other accountable for progression in their studies and to produce high-quality research that will position them and the university in good stead nationally and internationally. 

New teaching approach   

In the study “Exploring the use of YouTube videos in the teaching and learning of fractions in Grade 4”, MB Tsoaela (PhD student), explores the teaching and learning of fractions using YouTube videos in Grade 4. In trying to answer the main research question, “How do Grade 4 educators teach fractions utilising YouTube videos?” The researcher states that: “The use of YouTube videos is a very new way of learning in the South African context. This new teaching approach has proven to be exciting for young learners in Grade 4 because it has many options like animations, colourful videos, and pictures. Even though YouTube learning is exciting and fun, its implementation has challenges such as teachers wanting to use a chalkboard. Another challenge is the current load shedding.” 

Psychosocial implications of school violence

Another PhD student, MDL Stack, investigated how to design an assessment for Higher Education that ChatGPT is unable to provide an answer that will pass without human intervention in his research paper titled “Investigating an assessment design that prevents students from using ChatGPT as the sole basis to pass assessment in Higher Education at undergraduate level”. He argued that “ChatGPT has presented significant challenges to lecturers when they set assessments at tertiary level. 

“There is enormous potential for students to attempt to use ChatGPT to write and pass assessments designed at undergraduate level,” the researcher writes. 

Another research paper looked at the psychosocial implications of school violence on teachers in Motheo District public schools in the Free State, arguing that school violence against teachers continues to be a phenomenon that is increasingly disturbing, while having serious implications on South African and global societies. Many teachers suffer social and psychological stress but not much has been done to understand learner-induced violence against teachers.

Exposure for students  

Prof Matseliso Mokhele-Makgalwa, the acting Vice-Dean Research and Postgraduate Studies, says the purpose of the conference is to give exposure to master’s and PhD students to present their work in front of an academic audience (staff and students) as well as for them to get comments and feedback from experts and fellow students on their on-going research studies. 

“The conference is about sharing the ongoing research being done by our master’s and doctoral students and/or reporting on their preliminary and final outcomes of the students who are about to graduate. By presenting their work, they disseminate key findings, build relations with other students and staff, and create inter- and multi-disciplinary networks for future collaborations,” says Mokhele-Makgalwa.

News Archive

2016: The year that was on the Qwaqwa Campus
2016-12-19

Description: Dr Lehlohonolo Koao, Qwaqwa highlights 2017 Tags: Dr Lehlohonolo Koao  

Dr Lehlohonolo Koao believes his research
will improve ordinary lives.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

Description: Prof Lis Lange, Qwaqwa highlights 2017 Tags: Prof Lis Lange, Qwaqwa highlights 2017

Prof Lis Lange making a point about
the governance, leadership, and
management processes at the university.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

Description: I-DENT-I-TIES, Qwaqwa Campus highlights 2017 Tags: I-DENT-I-TIES, Qwaqwa Campus highlights 2017

One of the leading performers of
I-DENT-I-TIES, Baanetse Mokhotla.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

The year 2016 has seen the Qwaqwa Campus become a hive of activity from all fronts.

Lithium-ion batteries research

On the research front, Dr Lehlohonolo Koao started work on the research that is aimed at improving lives of ordinary people. His research project focuses on improving the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries that are now commonly used in portable electronics, such as cellphones and laptops.

“This study will enhance power retention in the batteries for improved daily life since cellphones, solar panels, and laptops, to mention only a few, are now a way of life.’’

Dr Koao is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics, where he specialises in solid state materials. He is also a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Scholars Programme.

Spotlight on the academic project

To create a conducive teaching and learning environment on the campus amid the academic difficulties experienced during the year, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) hosted a critical conversation that was facilitated by Vice-Rector: Academic, Prof Lis Lange.

Prof Lange interacted with students who asked her very difficult, but critical questions relating to internal UFS processes aimed at academic excellence. Issues that were discussed included developing a common understanding on governance, leadership, and management processes at the university.

Student talent unearthed

This was a year during which massive student talent was unearthed by an unusual stage play called I-DENT-I-TIES. This large-scale interdisciplinary performance project afforded Qwaqwa students an unforgettable experience. This was according to Baanetse Mokhotla, one of the leading performers.

“I have personally learnt a lot about performing arts and also grew as an individual.”

The creative minds behind the play included New York-based Dutch director, Erwin Maas; Vienna-based Dutch theatre designer, Nico de Rooij; Djana Covic, a Serbian performance-craft-artist based in Vienna; and South African film and stage legend Jerry Mofokeng. The production was part of this year’s Vrystaat Arts Festival in Bloemfontein.

 

 

 

 

 

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